Training Program

A training program at the Lewis & Clark College Student Counseling Center is provided for doctoral students in clinical psychology and counseling psychology and LPC interns. These trainees have completed at least one year of supervised training and have interests in serving individual clients who are often young adults in a college setting. The goal of Lewis & Clark’s training program is to prepare doctoral program trainees and LPC interns with a focused, intense experience in providing ethically informed clinical services to a college population while gaining self-awareness and working with a professional staff. The professional staff includes psychologists, LCSWs, LPCs, administrative staff, and a psychiatrist. Trainees might also work to some degree with health profession providers such as nurse practitioners and faculty/professionals of the LC community (e.g., Deans, Campus Living Staff).

Training Philosophy: The staff adhere to a developmental model of supervision, in which trainees are gradually given assignments that seem appropriate for their level of training and professional identities. Sensitivity to diversity and multiculturalism are highly valued by our staff. Thus, trainees are also expected to value self-awareness as they meet a variety of clients and work with LC’s professional staff to meet students’ needs. Staff pay attention to ethics and give ample opportunity for trainees to learn about various issues as they progress throughout the academic year.

Expectations

Expectations of our program are as follows:

• Complete a +550 hour (20 hrs/ x 32 week) commitment as follows:

     Duties                                      Hours per week

     Direct Client Contact                10-12

     Individual Supervision              1

     Group Supervision                    1

     Staff Meetings                            1

     Preparation for Supervision      1

     Administrative time                    4-6

Trainees will also complete 2 Outreach/Professional Presentations over the course of the training year

• Orientation: Trainees are expected to coordinate their academic schedules with the LC calendar to optimize their ability to participate in transitional activities. Thus, at the onset of the year, trainees are expected to communicate as needed to ensure that they are able to orient to LC. This might include participating in a campus tour or learning about how the Student Counseling Center clinically functions to provide care for its clients. Trainees will also be alerted to their resources, such as the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct as well as the APA Multicultural Guidelines published in 2017.
• Direct Client Contact: Trainee are expected to conduct Brief Initial Consultations “BICs” of “first time” clients of the LC Student Counseling Center. Orientation time will be geared towards preparation for this role. In addition to BICs throughout the academic year, trainees will be expected to provide individual and couples counseling services for clients. Trainees may co-facilitate groups with a senior staff and it is beneficial if the trainee has taken the appropriate “group counseling” course at their graduate program. Individual and couples’ sessions are expected to adhere to a short-term model of mental health services; however, to provide a well-rounded training experience, some clients might be seen over the course of the academic year.
• Individual Supervision & Preparation for Supervision: The hallmark of our training program is quality supervision. It is highly valued by our center, and trainees are expected to attend weekly individual meetings with their supervisor. In addition to weekly meetings with a primary supervisor, trainees are encouraged to consult with other staff as needed or as appropriate. Given that some sessions may be reviewed in supervision, trainees are expected to video-record sessions and spend time reviewing sessions, such that growth in self-awareness, client care, and ethics are noted. Reading relevant research and consulting with staff is encouraged, to help trainees learn to integrate research and theory with their clinical experiences.
• Group Supervision: To address professional roles, identity, clinical topics, and to provide additional support for clients’ welfare, trainees are expected to participate in weekly group supervision. The goal of these meetings is to provide additional supervision and to help trainees meet the demands of the academic year. Various guests and didactics will be offered periodically during this time, based on staff expertise areas and supervisee interests. Multiculturalism is a primary value of a variety of the staff, and group supervision is a medium to provide structured training in this theme. Thus, in addition to processing various clinical challenges, trainees are expected to participate in assignments related to multiculturalism as they continue through the academic year, along with various additional readings and reflections.
• Outreach/Professional Presentation: Given that a college environment provides ample opportunities to work with a variety of students, a trainee is expected to provide some type of outreach service to students or to professional staff at LC. This service is to be outside their clinical duty (e.g., individual/couples, group). For example, a presentation to students in a residence hall, or even to the LC staff on a special topic, could be a way to provide a “service” to the LC community. More details on the specific requirements will be made available.
• Professional/Appropriate Attire: Trainees are expected to pay attention to the college environment and represent a professional attitude, appearance, and demeanor when at LC doing official business.
• Logs/Records: Trainees are expected to keep logs of their hours and activities as needed for progress through their program. Furthermore, case notes are to be signed by a trainee’s supervisor; no files or case notes, nor recordings are to be taken off the premises of the LC Student Counseling Center. When sessions are recorded, those materials are to be kept under lock and key at the LC Student Counseling Center. Case notes are expected to be completed within a week of direct client contact (ideally within 1-2 days). This includes the documentation of phone calls, and email contact with clients. These specifics of training will be reviewed during orientation, and can periodically be reviewed with a supervisor as well.
• Evaluation: Both formative and summative evaluations occur at our site. In addition to the evaluation form of trainee’s graduate program, trainees are expected to receive feedback via a document that is specific to Lewis & Clark’s Training Program: the Lewis & Clark College Student Counseling Center—Competency/Training Objectives Evaluation Form. By the end of the year, trainees will receive feedback from clients, LC staff, and their supervisors in an effort to have a varied perspective on their training experience. In addition to summative feedback during the year, trainees will be given an opportunity to provide an evaluation of the training site and their individual supervisor by the end of the year. Written feedback about their progress in the training program will be given in time to align with their graduate program’s calendar.

There are other guidelines to our training program that are further detailed once a trainee is selected for placement.

If you have questions related to the training program offered at the Student Counseling Center, please contact Cindy Marino, Training Director and Staff Psychologist at cmarino@lclark.edu or by calling 503-768-7160.

Application Process

To be eligible for training at our site, applicants need to coordinate their application and interview with the Practicum/Internship Coordinator or Training Director at their respective graduate program.

Applicants typically start this process in the winter or spring term of the year prior to when they intend to complete a practicum/internship training.